Tripathi was on approved leave from the Ivy League school, meaning that he had requested and was granted time off, but he remained a student there.

Surveillance video released shows a man matching the physical description of the missing Brown University, filmed near Sunil’s house shortly after the suspected time of his sudden departure on the weekend of March 16.

Tripathi apparently left his apartment without his wallet and cell phone.

An image from the surveillance video, captured near Brown University at 1:33am on March 16, approximately 20 minutes after Sunil’s last recorded computer activity, shows a man walking south on Brook Street who matches Sunil’s physical description: six feet tall, skinny, and last seen wearing a black cap, dark jacket and jeans.

The man’s physique also matches an image of Sunil that was captured by the same camera on the evening before his disappearance. Side-by-side analysis of the suspected Sunil video and the definitive Sunil video reveals a similar gait and identical walking route.

The images could provide critical clues for the family of the missing 22-year-old, bolstering an intensive search that has captured national headlines.

"We miss his warm smile and generous gentle spirit so very much. Your help and prayers to find him mean so much," his family said in a statement.

Tripathi grew up in Radnor, Pennsylvania. His family said he is a talented saxophonist and a philosophy major. He has been living in Providence since 2008.

A public Facebook page has been created to help find Tripathi. Updates on the search effort are being posted there, as well as photographs and messages of encouragement.

Sunil, who is six feet tall and weighs 130 pounds, was last seen on the weekend of March 16 wearing a black hat with a Philadelphia Eagles logo, thin black-rimmed glasses, a black ski jacket and jeans.

Anyone who may have seen Sunil between 1:00am and 4:00am on March 16 in the area to the south of Brown University should contact Detective Mark Sacco at 401-641-8691.

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